Hinge



E. J. WALTON 2,291,667

HINGE I Filed Nov. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet /0 /3 l2 /4 INVENTOR.

4. BERT J WALTON WWJM 8 A TORNEY5.

g- 1942- E. J. WALTON HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1939 IVENTOR. E2. 555? J. Macro/V AT ORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1942 HINGE ElbertJ. Walton, Denver, 0010., assignor to Harry G. Liebhardt, Denver, 0010.

Application November 14, 1939, Serial No. 304,325

Claims.

This invention relates to improved hinge construction.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, automobile doors, forinstance, require a rugged hinge, and due to the curvature of suchdoors, the axis of angular movement of the hinges upon which automobiledoors are hung is usually set out from the car body. Furthermore, anautomobile door should have a stop to limit its angular openingmovement; otherwise, damage may result to the door or the car body.

There are numerous other places where rugged hinges having set out axesof angular movement and having stop means, are advantageous; forinstance, on refrigerator doors.

The present invention is herein illustrated as embodied in la. hingeespecially adapted for use on automobile doors, but it is to beunderstood that hinges made according to this invention as defined inthe appended claims, may be used for many diiferent types ofinstallation and the invention is not limited to automobile door hingesor any other specific installation.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a strong rugged hingeof novel construction that has its axis of angular movement set out fromthe hinged members to which it is attached.

Another object is the provision of a substantially dustproof andtamperproof hinge that readily can be lubricated.

Another object is to provide a hinge of this character that has meansfor limiting the angul-ar movement of the hinged members.

A further object is to provide a hinge having a ball-and-socket typehinge joint in contradistinction from a hinge pin.

Still another object is to provide in a hinge of this character, meanswhereby the hinge readily may be assembled and disassembled and whichwill hold its assembled relationship without accidental loosening.

A still further object is to provide a hinge whose axis of angularmovement may be selectively positioned within certain limits, accordingto installation requirements.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design andconstruction which will be more fully disclosed in the followingdescription and in the drawings wherein like parts have been similarlydesignated and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hinge mad according to thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the hinge shown inFigure l, butdrawn toaslightly smaller scale;

:the stationary one of the hinged members.

Figure 3 illustrates the normal openposition of the hinge shown inFigure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates the extreme open position of the hinge shown inFigures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 ofFigure 1;

Figure 6 is a front elevation partially in section, of a hinge madeaccordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken approximatel alongthe line 1-1 of Figure 6.

In order to record an operable reduction to practice of the presentinventive concept, the hinge illustrated herewith will be described indetail. However, it is to be understood that, since changes may occur tothose skilled in the art, this example is not intended to express orimply any limitation to the invention, the scope of which is, inreality, measured by the appended claims.

The present example of hinge construction embodies certain novelornamental design features which are set forth and claimed in the DesignPatent No. D-118,'715, issued January 30, 1940. Therefore, themechanical features of the improved hinge will be described and claimedin this present application, apart from the novel appearance of thehinge. The form and positioning of the hinge illustrated in Figures 6and 7 is preferred for installationupon automobile doors.

An angle plate 6 is adapted to be attached securely to the door frameor, in other words,

Another angle plate I is adapted to be attached to the movable one ofthe hinged members, i. e., the door. Each hinge plate 6 and 'lmay beprovided with a boss 8 to facilitate attachment to .the hinged members,as by means of bolts ,or

screws passing through said bosses.

A projection 9 terminating in ahorizontal internally threaded cylinderII] is carried on the stationary angle plate 6. An arm H is carried onthe movable angle plate I and terminates at its outer extremity in aball 12 which is carried in the interior of the cylinder ID, a socketfor said ball being built up of novel component parts within thecylinder 10.

The socket for the ball 12, as best illustrated in Figure 5, is providedin the cylinder ID by means of case hardened companion threadedplugs l3and I4, each of which has an arcuate depression that fits ,the outercontour of the ball.

The threaded-plugs l3 and M may be provided with a screwdriver slot, notshown, and they are externally threaded so that they may be screwed intothe cylinder II] from opposite directions to positions immediatelyadjacent sides of the ball I2, thus forming a socket. Obviously, theball I2 is rotatable in this socket between the companion threaded-plugsI3 and I4 and it is manifest that the axis of rotation of the ball I2may optionally be positioned within the limits of the cylinder I I] asdesired.

After the companion threaded-plugs I3 and I4 have been suitablypositioned, retaining springs tively, after which a retainingthreaded-plug I6 may be screwed into the cylinder II! to compress thespring I5 that is adjacent to and bearing upon companion socketedthreaded-plug",- and a retaining threaded-plug I! is screwed into theopposite end of the cylinder III] to compress the other retaining springI5 that bears upon companion socketed threaded-plug I3. Thus, the entiresocket assembly is held in its selected position against accidentalloosening, but the entire socket assembly readily may be disassembled ifand when desired, by removing the threadedplugs I6 and H, the springs I5and the companion socketed threaded-plugs I3 and I4.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the extreme open position of the hinge or,in other words, the extreme angular movement of the movable angle plate'I with reference to the stationary angle plate 6, is the position wherethe angle plate 1 contacts the outer portion of the retainingthreaded-plug H which is extended for this purpose.

The threaded-plug I6 may be provided with a common screwdriver slot asshown at I6a, Figure 1, and due to the particular streamlined shape ofthe other retaining threaded-plug I'I, it is preferred to provide anumber of relatively small holes Ila into which a suitable tool may beinserted for turning this threaded-plug.

Thus, is provided a strong rugged hinge that is suitable for hanging anautomobile door or other hinged member, particularly any type of heavydoor. The hinge is provided with a ball-andsocket joint instead of thecommon hinge pin and the axis of angular movement of the hinge is setout from the hinged members and may be selectively positioned withincertain limits, as desired. The novel built up socket for the ball mayreadily be assembled and disassembled and it remains securely locked inits assembled position.

The extended portion of the retaining threaded-plug I'I serves theuseful purpose of providing stop means for the angular movement of theangle plate I and the door attached there- I to, with reference to thestationary angle plate 6. A door mounted on angle plate "I cannotpossibly contact the stationary structure to which the stationary angleplate 6 is attached. A door mounted upon such a hinge swings entirelyclear from the stationary structure when it is opened and remainsentirely clear until again closed.

Obviously, the horizontal distance that the axis of angular movement isset out from the stationary structure may be varied in the originalconstruction of the hinge by varying the distance of the center of thecylinder I0 from the stationary angle plate 6. The exact fitting of thelatch edge of the door with reference to the door frame is underselective control by the optional positioning of the companion socketedthreadedplugs I3 and I4 in the threaded cylinder I0.

Referring particularly to the form of hinge illustrated in Figures 6 and7, which is the preferred form and positioning for use on automobiledoors, the hinge is preferably mounted so that the arm II terminating inthe ball I2, hangs in the socket provided by case hardened companionthreaded-plugs I3 and I4 in cylinder I0, and projects downwardlytherefrom.

The inner mechanical details of construction in the form of the hingeillustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is entirely comparable to that wellillustrated in section in Figure 5, but it has not been considerednecessary to repeat these details in Figure 6.

A typical grease gun connection is mounted upon the top of the cylinderIll and is in ordinary communication with the interior of the cylinde'rI0, thus providing means for thoroughly lubricating the ball and socketjoint. Since the opening in the bottom of cylinder II] through which theball I2 is inserted into its socket, opens downwardly, practically nodust will enter the ball and socket joint. This is highly advantageousin automobile construction.

A hinge made according to any of these examples is virtuallytamper-proof since there is no hinge pin that can be forced out of thehinge as in ordinary hinge construction. A door mounted upon a hingemade according to this invention and locked in closed position cannot beopened or removed by tampering with the hinges.

The hinges herein illustrated are especially attractive in appearanceand as above pointed out, their ornamental design features are being setforth and claimed in another application.

To avoid any tendency to turning the threaded companion socket-formingplugs I3 and I4 by the hinge ball I2 socketed therebetween, saidthreaded plugs I3 and I4 may conveniently be made to fit tightly in thethreaded cylinder Ill.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hinge comprising a normally stationary plate, an internallythreaded cylinder carried on the plate and spaced away from said plate,companion socketed threaded-plugs in the cylinder forming a socket,means comprising compression springs positioned to bear against saidsocket-forming threaded-plugs and retaining threaded-plugs pressing saidsprings for holding the socketed threaded plugs in selected position insaid cylinder, a relatively movable plate, and an arm on the movableplate having a ball terminal held in the socket.

2. A hinge comprising a normally stationary plate, an internallythreaded cylinder carried on the plate and spaced away from said plate,companion socketed threaded-plugs in the cylinder forming a socket,means comprising compression spring and retaining threaded-plugs forholding the socketed plugs in selected positions in said cylinder, arelatively movable plate, and an arm on the movable plate having a ballterminal held in the socket, one of said retaining plugs projecting fromsaid cylinder in a position to limit relative angular movement of themovable plate in one direction.

3. A hinge comprising a stationary'plate, an

sai-d cylinder, a relatively movable plate, and an arm on the movableplate having a ball terminal held in the socket, there being an openingin a side of the cylinder to admit said ball.

4. A hinge comprising a stationary plate, a normally horizontalinternally threaded cylinder carried on the plate and spaced awaytherefrom, companion socketed threaded-plugs threaded into the cylinderproviding a socket, compression springs bearing against the respectivesocketed threaded-plugs, spring-pressing retaining threaded-plugsscrewed into the cylinder at opposite ends thereof, a relatively movableplate, an arm on the movable plate terminating in a ball carried in saidsocket, there being an opening in a side of said cylinder to admit saidball, one of said retaining threaded plugs projectin from the cylinderin a position to limit relative angular movement of the movable plate inone direction.

5. In a hinge for an automobile door or the like inclusive of arelatively stationary element and an angularly movable element, theimprovement which comprises a normally horizontal internally threadedcylinder having a downward side opening and mounted on the stationaryelement and spaced therefrom, companion socketed plugs threaded intosaid cylinder, resilient means for resisting movement of said plugs fromtheir selected position with reference to the cylinder, and an arm onthe movable element extending upwardly into the cylinder and having aball terminal held between said plugs.

ELBERT J. WALTON.

